The case of ‘protective fever and chest signs’: towards a better understanding of general practice databases

摘要

General practice databases provide researchers with information about the realities of primary care. Empirical data of GPs' care of patients is a key resource in primary care research,1 and it is a positive sign that this trend is increasing in the worldwide health science community. In a number of countries, robust general practice databases are emerging which serve as an infrastructure for studies of diagnosis, prognosis, and management of health problems. An inherent strength of the databases are their strong links to the community in which the GPs practice and, as a consequence, they enable direct research of important health problems.2 Although GP databases are relevant to large sectors of the science and healthcare communities, they can be difficult to interpret.